International Poetry Day - 21st March
If poetry is close to your heart then there is no better time to celebrate poetry in all it’s many forms than on the 21st March.
A little history -
World Poetry Day is celebrated on 21st March, and was declared by UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) in 1999, "with the aim of supporting linguistic diversity through poetic expression and increasing the opportunity for endangered languages to be heard". Its purpose is to promote the reading, writing, publishing, and teaching of poetry throughout the world and, as the original UNESCO declaration says, to "give fresh recognition and impetus to national, regional, and international poetry movements”.
It was generally celebrated in October, but in the 20th century, the world community celebrated it on the 15th, the birthday of Virgil, the Roman epic poet and poet laureate under Augustus. The tradition to keep an October date for national or international Poetry Day celebrations still holds in many countries. The UK generally uses the first Thursday in October, but elsewhere a different October, or even sometimes a November date, is celebrated.
There is an element of poetry in everything we read, every song we sing, and every day that draws to a close with the sun setting. It is not something that you have to be a certain type of person to enjoy, anyone can write, read or listen to a poem, it has no limitations and that is the beauty of it.
Here at October Books, we host a Poetry Open Mic night that is open to everyone. You can read poetry of your own, poems you love by others, pros, or even the first chapter of a book or short story you are working on. It is hosted by Amelia (our resident poet and shop team member) on the third Friday of every month.
We sell poetry anthologies from local authors such as but not limited to - New Southampton Poets by Andy Buchanan and Art And Soul By Anna Springett. Make sure to give a few poems from these lovely collections a read next time you are in the shop.
